MALONE. [deeply wounded and full of concern] Hector: you don't know what poverty is.
HECTOR. [fervidly] Well, I want to know what it is.
I want'be a Man.
Violet: you come along with me, to your own home: I'll see you through.
OCTAVIUS. [jumping down from the garden to the lawn and running to Hector's left hand] I hope you'll shake hands with me before you go, Hector.
I admire and respect you more than I can say. [He is affected almost to tears as they shake hands].
VIOLET. [also almost in tears, but of vexation] Oh don't be an idiot, Tavy.
Hector's about as fit to become a workman as you are.
TANNER. [rising from his chair on the other ride of Hector] Never fear: there's no question of his becoming a navvy, Mrs Malone. [To Hector] There's really no difficulty about capital to start with.
Treat me as a friend: draw on me.
OCTAVIUS. [impulsively] Or on me.
MALONE. [with fierce jealousy] Who wants your dirty money?
Who should he draw on but his own father? [Tanner and Octavius recoil, Octavius rather hurt, Tanner consoled by the solution of the money difficulty.
Violet looks up hopefully].
Hector: don't be rash, my boy.
I'm sorry for what I said: I never meant to insult Violet: I take it all back. She's just the wife you want: there!
HECTOR. [Patting him on the shoulder] Well, that's all right, dad.
Say no more: we're friends again.
Only, I take no money from anybody.
MALONE. [pleading abjectly] Don't be hard on me, Hector.
I'd rather you quarrelled and took the money than made friends and starved.
You don't know what the world is: I do.
HECTOR.
No, no, NO.
That's fixed: that's not going to change. [He passes his father inexorably by, and goes to Violet]. Come, Mrs Malone: you've got to move to the hotel with me, and take your proper place before the world.
VIOLET.
But I must go in, dear, and tell Davis to pack.
Won't you go on and make them give you a room overlooking the garden for me?
I'll join you in half an hour.
HECTOR.
Very well.
You'll dine with us, Dad, won't you?
MALONE. [eager to conciliate him] Yes, yes.
HECTOR.
See you all later. [He waves his hand to Ann, who has now been joined by Tanner, Octavius, and Ramsden in the garden, and goes out through the little gate, leaving his father and Violet together on the lawn].
MALONE.
You'll try to bring him to his senses, Violet: I know you will.
VIOLET.
I had no idea he could be so headstrong.
If he goes on like that, what can I do?
MALONE.
Don't be discurridged: domestic pressure may be slow; but it's sure.
You'll wear him down. Promise me you will.
VIOLET.
I will do my best.
Of course I think it's the greatest nonsense deliberately making us poor like that.
MALONE.
Of course it is.
VIOLET. [after a moment's reflection] You had better give me the remittance.
He will want it for his hotel bill.